Earth's Geosphere

What is Geosphere?

Geosphere refers to the solid part of the Earth,

including the rocks, minerals, landforms, and the
processes that shape them. In this lesson, we will
explore the earth's layers and how the plates of the
earth move.

Layers of the Earth

Earth's Tectonic Plates

 The Layers of the Earth
The earth is divided into three main layers namely the crust, the mantle and the
core. Understanding the different layers of the Earth helps us learn about what the
Earth is made of, how it is structured, and how it behaves.

Crust Mantle Core

 Earth's Crust
The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth. It is the thinnest layer, ranging
from about 5 to 70 kilometers in thickness. The crust can be further divided into
two types: continental crust and oceanic crust.

Continental Crust Oceanic Crust

The continental crust is the The oceanic crust is the thinner

thicker layer of the Earth's layer of the Earth's crust that is
crust that is found under the found under the ocean basins.
continents. It is about 35 It is about 7 kilometers thick on
kilometers thick on average. average.
 Earth's Mantle
The mantle is the layer beneath the Earth's crust. It is the thickest layer,
extending from the base of the crust to a depth of approximately 2,900
kilometers. The mantle can be divided into an upper and lower layer.

Upper Mantle Lower Mantle

The upper mantle is relatively The solid lower mantle

rigid and contains the contributes to the overall
asthenosphere, a semi-fluid convection and heat transfer
layer that allows the movement within the Earth's interior.
of tectonic plates.
 Earth's Core
The core is the innermost layer of the Earth, situated beneath the
mantle. It is divided into two distinct regions: the outer core and the
inner core.

Outer Core Inner Core

The outer core is a liquid layer The inner core is the solid,
composed mainly of molten iron central part of the earth. It has a
and nickel. It has a thickness of radius of about 1,220
about 2,300 kilometers. kilometers and is composed of
solid iron and nickel.
 Crust

The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth. It is the thinnest layer,
ranging from about 5 to 70 kilometers in thickness.

Mantle

The mantle is the layer beneath the Earth's crust. It is the thickest
layer, extending from the base of the crust to a depth of
approximately 2,900 kilometers.

Core

The core is the innermost layer of the Earth, situated beneath the
mantle. It is divided into two distinct regions: the outer core and the
inner core.
JOURNEY
INTO
EARTHQUAKE
OBJECTIVES:
Today, we embark on an exciting journey into the
fascinating world of earthquakes. We will explore what
causes earthquakes, the different types of faults, how
earthquakes are measured, the science behind seismic
waves and Earth's interior, the role of seismographs, the
effects of earthquakes, and finally, earthquake
preparedness.
What is an Earthquake?
An earthquake is a sudden release of energy in the Earth's
crust that creates seismic waves.

What causes Earthquakes?

Most earthquakes occur due to the movement of tectonic
plates, which are large pieces of the Earth's crust that fit
together like a jigsaw puzzle.
 Types of Faults
Faults are fractures or cracks in the Earth's crust where movement occurs.

Normal faults Reverse faults Strike-slip faults

Occur when rocks move apart due Occur when rocks are pushed Occur when rocks slide
to tensional forces. together due to compressional horizontally past each other due to
forces. shear forces.
What are Tectonic Plates?

The Earth's crust is divided into large pieces

called tectonic plates. These plates float on the
semi-fluid mantle below them.

Divergent Tectonic Boundary

Convergent Tectonic Boundary

Transform Tectonic Boundary

 Types of Plate Boundaries

Divergent Plate Convergent Plate Transform Plate

 Divergent Boundaries
At divergent boundaries, plates move away
from each other. This movement results in
the creation of new crust as magma rises
from the mantle, solidifies, and forms new
oceanic crust.

Divergent boundaries are responsible for the

On land, divergent plate boundaries create rift valleys. The crust continuous reshaping and formation of
in these areas stretches and thins, causing the land to sink and
create a valley. Magma from the mantle can rise to the surface,
Earth's crust.
leading to volcanic activity.
 Convergent Boundaries
Convergent boundaries are places where
tectonic plates collide or come together.
When two plates meet, their interactions can
result in various geological phenomena.

Convergent boundaries contribute to the

When two continental plates collide, neither plate is subducted formation of mountains, volcanic activity,
due to their low density. Instead, the two plates compress and
crumple, creating highly folded and uplifted mountain ranges.
and earthquakes.
 Transform Boundaries
Transform boundaries occur when two plates
slide past each other horizontally. The
movement along these boundaries can cause
earthquakes, as the plates grind against each
other.

Transform boundaries redistribute stress and

Unlike convergent or divergent boundaries, there is no creation accommodates the movement between
or destruction of crust at transform boundaries. The plates
simply grind against each other horizontally.
neighboring plates.
 Divergent Boundaries

At divergent boundaries, plates move away from each other. This

movement results in the creation of new crust.

Convergent Boundaries

Convergent boundaries are places where tectonic plates collide or

come together. When two plates meet, their interactions can result
in various geological phenomena.

Transform Boundaries

Transform boundaries occur when two plates slide past each other
horizontally. The movement along these boundaries can cause
earthquakes.
Magnitude of an • Magnitude is a measure of the
energy released by an earthquake.
Earthquake
• The Richter scale is used to measure
the magnitude of an earthquake,
ranging from 0 to 10 or more.

• Each whole number increase on the

scale represents a tenfold increase in
the amplitude of the seismic waves.
 Seismic Waves There are two main types of
Seismic waves are the energy waves that
radiate outward from an earthquake's seismic waves:
epicenter.
• Compresional/Primary (P) waves: Fastest
waves that compress and expand rocks in
the direction of wave propagation.

• Shear/Secondary (S) waves: Slower waves

that shake the ground perpendicular to
their direction of travel.

Surface waves: Slowest waves that move

along the Earth's surface and cause the most
damage.
 Seismograph

• A seismograph is an instrument used to record and measure the motion of

the ground during an earthquake.

• It consists of a stationary base and a suspended weight or mass that

remains stationary during an earthquake but records the motion of the
ground.
EFFECTS OF AN EARTHQUAKE
Ground shaking:
Can cause buildings, bridges, and other structures to collapse.

Tsunamis:
Underwater earthquakes can generate large ocean waves that travel
long distances.

Landslides:
Slopes become unstable, leading to the downhill movement of soil
and rocks.
 Earthquake While we cannot predict when or where an earthquake
will occur, being prepared can save lives and reduce
Preparedness damage.

• Create an emergency plan: Designate meeting points,

emergency contacts, and evacuation routes.

• Prepare an emergency kit: Include essentials like food, water,

first aid supplies, and a flashlight.

• Secure heavy furniture and objects: Use wall brackets and

fasteners to prevent them from falling during an earthquake.

• Practice drop